Chelsea Sodaro

I make time for meditation every day and do diaphragmatic breathing when stressed. I also spend time with people I love to help me relax.
 
Transcript: "I make time for meditation every day. And I do some diaphragmatic breathing, if I'm super stressed out, or even just to ground myself a couple of times during the day. And I'm intentional about spending time with people that I love and to help me feel relaxed and are really fun to be around."

I usually do something active for recovery on my rest days, but it can be okay to just swim. It's also important to take a full rest day every now and then for mental health and family.
 
Transcript: "I actually don't take too many full rest days. I find that I feel better if I do like some active recovery. So yes, I think that it can be okay to just swim. In fact, most Fridays. I just have like a fairly short swim and then I have a big session on Saturday. So I find that if I do that little swim it helps me. Feel ready to go for the next day. I think that occasionally it is really important to take a full rest day and for me, that's more. Or like my mental health and just giving me like a mental break and rest and a day to just do family. But yeah, for the most part, I don't really take full days off. I feel better when I do something every day."

I would choose myself on the run, Natalie Coughlin on the swim and Lizzie Diagnosan on the bike to do a race with.
 
Transcript: "I love this question. It's a really fun thought exercise as a triathlete. I would put myself on the run because I always Bank myself on the run and I would put Natalie Coughlin on the swim because she is a badass mom. And she's a cal bear when I would put Lizzie diagnosan on the bike, because she is also a badass mom and an athlete that I really admire. And I would love ya to do a race with these two ladies."

During my taper week before a big race, I significantly reduce my training volume but maintain some intensity. I also pay close attention to my diet, cutting back on fiber and roughage two to three days out from race day. On the actual Race week, I become more introverted and try to be around people who keep me positive and lighthearted.
 
Transcript: "Thanks so much for your question. So the most important thing about the taper week like the last week before a big race is that I significantly cut the volume but I keep in a lot of intensity. Like I will have a little bit of intensity on most days and like that really helps keep the engine firing and helps me like Prep properly for the race. So I don't feel flat on race day, but where I might Train like 25 hours a week. Normally I will only train like 12 to 15 maybe on a taper week. I keep my diet fairly similar except for like two to three days out. I might start eating like a bit less fiber, like, less kale, and roughage, so to speak, and I like, I'm really careful about that the day before. Or and Brace Morning Race. We can often feel kind of busy to me because I'm like, getting all my equipment ready. I'm trying to get really focused. I get pretty nervous. So I kind of like become super introverted on Race week and I like to be around people who keep me really happy and positive and keep things light and fun."

A good post race snack would be something with protein like a bar or shake.
 
Transcript: "This is a good one. I would say like a bar or shaked have after the race. Usually, we're just focused on actual competition and we don't really think about recovering post competition. So I would say like a good snack with some protein for after your race."

My favorite running shoe for racing is the Hoka rocket X because it's lightweight, responsive and fast.
 
Transcript: "My favorite running shoe for racing is the Hoka rocket X because it's super Speedy. It's responsive and it's it's light and fast Sky. Also likes the Hulk has but maybe doesn't feel like going for a run today, unfortunately."